France introduced a third foreign-born player today when a 22-man squad was announced ahead of their opening Six Nations match against Italy at the Stade de France on February 2nd.
South-African born Steven Hall, 29, has played in France for Beziers since 1998. He joins South African prop Pieter De Villiers and New Zealand centre Tony Marsh.
Coach Bernard Laporte also called Toulouse lock Fabien Pelous and versatile back Xavier Garbajosa back into the squad after long injury lay-offs.
France are without injured fullback Clement Poitrenaud, winger Christophe Dominici and number eight Patrick Tabacco for the start of the championship.
Squad:
Backs:
Fabien Galthie (Stade Francais, captain), Frederic Michalak (Stade Toulousain), Gerald Merceron (Montferrand), Francois Gelez (Agen), Damien Traille (Pau), Tony Marsh (Montferrand), Xavier Garbajosa (Stade Toulousain), David Bory (Montferrand), Aurelien Rougerie (Montferrand), Nicolas Jeanjean (Stade Toulousain)
Forwards:
Yannick Bru (Stade Toulousain), Raphael Ibanez (Castres), Jean-Jacques Crenca (Agen), Pieter De Villiers (Stade Francais), Jean-Batpiste Poux (Narbonne), Thibault Privat (Beziers), David Auradou (Stade Francais), Fabien Pelous (Stade Toulousain), Serge Betsen (Biarritz), Olivier Magne (Montferrand), Elvis Vermeulen (Montferrand), Steven Hall (Beziers)
AFP